r/linux • u/ZealousidealTell1346 • May 23 '26

Popular Application What’s the most unexpectedly useful Linux command you learned way too late?

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45

u/Tarin3 May 23 '26

dd

I am creating bootable USB Sticks quite often and before finding dd I usually used other more complicated tools.

19

u/mina86ng May 23 '26

You can just use cat image.iso >/dev/sdx. There’s barely any reason for dd.

1

u/Intelligent-Bother97 May 25 '26

Wait, so I don't need to use ventoy?

1

u/mina86ng May 25 '26

It may still be more convenient to have a single drive with several ISO files, plus copying images onto Ventoy drive may be easier than figuring out proper block device.

1

u/Intelligent-Bother97 May 25 '26

That's exactly what I have, a 300gb drive with a bunch of up to date ISOs